BRUNSWICK COUNTY — During a visit to Green Swamp Nature Preserve on Tuesday, Governor Roy Cooper addressed his recent decision to rescind his consideration as vice presidential candidate to presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris.
Cooper was visiting the coastal region of the state with EPA director Michael Regan to promote $117.8 million being funneled into North Carolina from the EPA’s $421 million Climate Pollution Reduction Grant. It will help fund natural land conservation, restoration projects in coastal habitats, and carbon reduction statewide, with some of the money earmarked toward conserving Brunswick County’s 15,900-acre Green Swamp Preserve.
“As we move toward a clean energy future, we must also recommit ourselves to preserving, restoring and protecting our natural resources that play such an important role,” Cooper said. “This historic funding from the Biden-Harris administration will help us make our state and future generations more resilient to storms, more attractive for tourism dollars, and more effective at removing carbon from our air.”
The governor said there were many reasons he decided to remove himself from the VP running, including the effect it could have on other campaigns. Republican Lt. Governor Mark Robinson — known for his controversial comments and who is facing off against Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein — would step in as acting governor upon Cooper’s campaign travels with Harris. The fear was it could detract from Harris’ presidential bid.
He used the example of an October trip to Japan when Robinson stepped in and held a media event, declaring it “North Carolina Solidarity with Israel Week.”
Cooper, whose limited term ends in January, told media he would continue to support Harris. Upon asking what’s next and if he would seek a U.S. Senate seat, he said: “All options are on the table.”
Thom Tillis and Tedd Budd, both Republicans, aren’t up for re-election until 2027 and 2029 respectively; that would have Cooper campaigning in 2026 if he stepped into the earliest race. Though some political pundits have speculated he could also be part of Harris’ cabinet. Cooper and Harris have known each other for years, when they both served as attorneys general.
If elected, it would be an historic event for the nation, as Harris would be the first woman, Black woman and Asian American holding the highest office. Cooper praised her campaign as serving the “right message,” claiming she is the best candidate for the ticket.
Harris is expected to announce her VP pick by the end of the week. Numerous candidates have been vetted, according to national media reports. Top pics include Arizona’s Senator Mark Kelley, three governors, including Pennsylvania’s Josh Shapiro, Kentucky’s Andy Beshear and Minnesota’s Tim Wilz, and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
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